Konoha Village.
A large crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board on Hokage Avenue.
Posted on the board was the latest announcement from the Hokage's office.
The content was simple yet uplifting.
To reward the villagers for their hard work, Konoha's leadership had unanimously decided to issue a new welfare benefit.
For any family with a ninja, they only needed to pay 50,000 ryo of Land of Fire currency annually. If their family ninja unfortunately died in the line of duty, they would receive an additional 500,000 ryo compensation on top of the village's standard pension.
While 500,000 ryo wasn't a fortune, it would at least help families who'd lost their breadwinner get through the difficult times ahead.
The villagers enthusiastically supported this welfare program.
In peacetime Konoha, the ninja casualty rate actually wasn't that high.
From C-rank to SS-rank missions, the average annual fatality rate was roughly 6%.
This wasn't a joke.
Think about it—if any village had an annual death rate exceeding 20%, would anyone dare become a ninja there?
One hundred people, twenty dying each year.
With a 20% annual fatality rate, out of a hundred ninja graduating from the academy at twelve, only ten would survive after ten years.
By then they'd be around twenty-two or twenty-three—prime childbearing age.
A 6% fatality rate might seem low, but it was already quite significant.
Based on this figure, Konoha's leadership proposed a 1:10 compensation ratio.
Pay 50,000, get 500,000—essentially earning 450,000 while lying down.
Looking at the notice on the bulletin board, villagers thought it was excellent.
For ninja, 50,000 ryo wasn't much—just the payment for two or three D-rank missions.
With a bit of luck and a generous employer, one D-rank mission could cover it.
Yet this 50,000 could be exchanged for 500,000—equivalent to the average payment for an A-rank mission, which had to be split among the entire team.
Where else could you find such a deal?
Not to mention the notice also listed a home safety insurance benefit with an even higher 1:20 payout ratio.
In front of the bulletin board, villagers were enthusiastic, asking where they could obtain these benefits.
If not for Sakumo's incident, they might not have been so moved.
But Sakumo's suicide had directly changed the village's public opinion.
Previously, people praised heroes who protected their comrades. Now such heroes could only exit through suicide.
Without teammates watching out for them on missions, ninja had to be even more careful protecting themselves.
The recent Hokage Rock bombing incident made villagers feel danger lurked right beside them.
While everyone discussed excitedly, the mastermind behind it all—Rinjin—was in Rain Village's laboratory, staring at a familiar-looking boy in the culture tank before him.
Obito Uchiha.
More precisely, a clone of Obito Uchiha.
Rinjin didn't plan to do anything with this clone—he only wanted the eyes.
Kamui couldn't hide blood and tears...
Since it couldn't be hidden, he'd give them to Rin.
He eagerly anticipated the scene when Kakashi, Obito, and Rin all awakened their Mangekyō Sharingan simultaneously.
At that time—
Obito would say: "I want to create a world with only Rin."
Rin would say: "I want to create a world with only Obito and Kakashi."
Tsk tsk... that scene... he'd willingly pay for tickets to watch it.
Queen Konan expressed agreement and gave a thumbs up!
Watching the embryo about to take shape, Rinjin clenched his fist expectantly.
Just as Rinjin was secretly gloating, a foreign object suddenly intruded into Rain Village's underground space.
Through his White Zetsu slippers, Rinjin caught its trail the instant the intruder entered the village's range.
The next second, he slowly sank underground.
Before long, bubbles rose on the water surface outside Rain Village.
Rinjin leaped out of the water, dragging a spiral-faced White Zetsu.
"G? What's this new variety?" Stroking his chin, Rinjin muttered to himself.
Hearing this, the spiral-faced White Zetsu immediately began groveling for mercy.
"Rinjin-san, Boss Rinjin, it's me! Tobi! We met at the Graveyard of the Mountains last time~"
"Oh? We've met?"
"Yes, yes! Last time when you brought cotton clothes and blankets to Lord Madara, I was the one who threw the stuff out... ah, no... I helped... helped Lord Madara make his bed!"
Watching the babbling Tobi, Rinjin scratched his head, his eyes gradually narrowing.
"So what are you doing running to Rain Village for no reason?"
"Uh... that... if I said I was just passing by... would you believe me?"
"Heh~ What do you think?"
Hearing this, Tobi's body visibly trembled, his heart full of despair.
This... this wasn't what Lord Madara said would happen!
Rinjin's reaction was way too intense!
He wasn't wrong.
If this were Konoha, Rinjin might not even bother with it. But this was Rain Village!
Although Rain Village seemed like a sieve to other villages—any intelligence could be found out—they always kept their most important secrets well-protected.
So Rain Village never investigated other villages' spies, but maintained strict vigilance against Madara Uchiha'sWhite Zetsu.
After pondering briefly, Rinjin decided—just as old Madara had predicted—to pay him a visit.
After all, it was just a round trip, and Rinjin could afford the time.
Most importantly, he was very interested in the aftermath of his last visit to Madara Uchiha.
Dragging the trembling Tobi, Rinjin formed a single-handed seal and instantly used the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The next second, both appeared in the still frigid northern Land of Iron.
Casually tossing Tobi aside, Rinjin straightened his collar and walked into the Graveyard of the Mountains.
From afar, old Madara sat before a roaring fire, leisurely warming himself.
Seeing Rinjin arrive, the white-haired old man wasn't surprised. He casually pointed to a chair nearby, indicating Rinjin should make himself comfortable.
Seeing this, Rinjin wasn't polite either. Smiling, he walked to the fire and sat down, speaking as casually as an old friend:
"Lord Madara, what did you call me here for?"
Hearing this, Madara's lips curved slightly. He thought dealing with smart people was truly easy—if only this guy were on his side.
Clearing his throat, Madara spoke calmly.
"Nothing special, just wanted to chat with you.
Since Izuna and Hashirama died, there hasn't been a single person in this world qualified to chat with me—except you."
Hearing this, Rinjin immediately felt honored, waving his hands repeatedly:
"Lord Madara, please don't say that!
What virtue or ability do I have to be mentioned alongside you and Lord Hashirama!
If there's anything you want to ask, please speak directly."
Seeing this, Madara didn't relax at all due to Rinjin's attitude. This guy was like that—appearing more amiable than anyone, but striking harder than anyone when fighting.
After silently complaining, Madara spoke calmly.
"Rinjin, I want to know how you learned about the Rinnegan."
Hearing this, Rinjin smiled mysteriously, leaning close to Madara and whispering:
"The Uzumaki clan. I once visited the Uzumaki clan and met that immortal old fox Uzumaki Ashina."
"Hmm?" Madara was slightly stunned, long-sealed memories surfacing.
"That old bastard's still not dead?"
Hearing this, Rinjin nodded.
"Not dead. Even when the Uzumaki clan was exterminated, he didn't intervene.
He's been hiding behind the scenes, guarding the Namian Hall that the Uzumaki clan has protected for generations.
Everything I know about the Rinnegan and the Eye of the Moon Plan, he told me.
In exchange, I killed him when his natural death was approaching, then used Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation to summon him back to continue guarding Namian Hall!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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